Barbara Weakens over Mexico

Hurricane Barbara hit Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Wednesday (May 29), flooding roads, toppling trees and killing two men as it pounded the area with heavy rain near the country's biggest oil refinery.

The U.S. National Hurricane Centre said the hurricane was 130km (80 miles) east of the port of Salina Cruz in Oaxaca state. Winds were blowing at a maximum 120 kph (75 miles per hour).

Local emergency services said a 61-year-old U.S. man surfing off the beach at Salina Cruz had drowned during the storm. A 26-year-old Mexican man was killed as he tried to cross a stream.

"Although this phenomena is taking place, (the deaths) have not been caused by this phenomena. A negligent person on vacation saw the beach closed and broke all protocols and restrictions and lost their life. This is in the area of Salina Cruz.

The second person tried to cross a stream at night and they were taken by this stream. The natural force is stronger than us so they lost their life," said the Director of Civil Protection in Oaxaca, Manuel Maza Sanchez.

Officials have issued a hurricane warning from Oaxaca's Puerto Angel to Barra de Tonala, and a tropical storm warning from Barra de Tonala to Boca de Pijijiapan in Chiapas state.

Between 10 to 20 cm (6 to 10 inches) of rain is expected over eastern Oaxaca through western Chiapas, along with a storm surge of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 metres) above normal tide levels, the National Hurricane Centre reported.

Once a Hurricane, Barbara is now a weak Tropical Depression as it dumps heavy rains across Mexico.

As of 4:00am Central Time this morning, Barbara was over Mexico and packing sustained winds of 35 miles per hour. All Tropical Storm Warnings have now been discontinued.

Some parts of Mexico could receive 6 to 10 inches of rain before all is said and done.

The center of Barbara is expected to emerge into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico later today.

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